Mayor Wu’s 2026 Property Tax Relief Calculator

The City’s tax levy is allocated between residential and commercial properties based on state law. Mayor Wu and the City Council have consistently taken every available step to protect residents by setting the residential share of the tax levy at the lowest level permitted by law. However, changing national market conditions have accelerated a shift in the tax burden onto residential taxpayers, resulting in homeowners and tenants paying a growing share of the levy while commercial property owners pay less.

To address this trend, Mayor Wu filed legislation in February 2024 to provide temporary, targeted relief and slow the pace of the shift onto residential taxpayers. This proposal has undergone extensive review and was approved multiple times by the City Council and twice by the State House of Representatives. The City also participated in public hearings and town halls, met with members of the State Senate, and provided detailed analyses and additional information as requested throughout the process.

The latest version of the legislation, filed with the Legislature in February 2025, has not been assigned to a committee by the State Senate. As a result, the City must proceed with mailing out tax bills under existing state law. This will lead to an annual tax bill  increase of 13% for the average single family home receiving a residential exemption, with some residents experiencing higher increases based on individual property valuations.

The City has met all required timelines, maximized residential protections under existing law, and taken steps to manage costs while maintaining essential services, including cutting 500 positions from last year’s budget and directing department heads to submit budget proposals for the next fiscal year that reflect further reduction. Legislative action by the State Senate remains necessary to allow additional flexibility and provide needed relief to Boston residents.